Charles Barkley isn’t one to let Craig Sager wage the fight for his life by himself … not even for a moment.

Barkley visited Sager on Wednesday at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as the popular TNT sideline reporter prepared to undergo a bone marrow transplant in an effort to combat leukemia. Sager’s wife Stacy couldn’t be with her husband because she caught a cold, so Barkley flew to Houston to provide company to Sager.

Normally, Barkley’s visit wouldn’t make news, but the fact he was dealing with his own health issue makes it remarkable.

” … Sir Charles had hip replacement surgery less than a month ago and wasn’t cleared to travel,” according to The Associated Press. “He said his doctor was livid when he learned Barkley had defied orders and flown halfway across the country. Barkley informed the doctor that it was an emergency.”

Barkley cited his admiration for Sager, his longtime NBA on TNT colleague, as the reason for his doctor-defying mission.

“Craig Sager is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met,” Barkley said. “We go to see Sager to cheer him up and by the time you leave you’re like, ‘Is anything wrong with him?’ He has the most positive attitude … When you go to try and cheer him up his attitude is so upbeat he cheers you up.”

Sager’s son thanked Barkley on Twitter.

Have to thank Barkley for keeping my Dad company today in Houston as he finished his final prep work & for being there every step. 💯